VE Day 80: Do it for veterans
Celebrate and commemorate 80 years of freedom
On 8 May 1945, after almost six years of brutal war, revellers filled the pubs and danced in the streets rejoicing at the news they had long been waiting for... Victory in Europe!
And now it’s YOUR turn.
We are calling on all our supporters to celebrate our brave blind veterans who lived through the war by using this proud anniversary to raise vital funds in their honour.
Help them regain their confidence and independence so they can live the fulfilled, meaningful lives they so deserve.
VE Day remembered
As we approach the 80th anniversary of this historic event, we'll be sharing extraordinary accounts of the day from some of our blind veterans who fought in the Second World War, as well as their stunning portraits and candid interviews.
From the overwhelming relief to the highs and lows that unfolded, each of these heroes has a powerful story to tell.
Today, they have another gruelling battle on their hands – this time against sight loss. As the darkness descends, and they find themselves losing their independence, they can feel isolated, helpless and unable to cope.
Make VE Day 80 count. Let's give them the support they deserve.
Commemorate and celebrate with us!
Could you hang out bunting in our blind veterans' honour? Or perhaps you'd like to get creative with the number 80?
Whatever you choose to do, you'll have access to our resources to support your fundraising activity, including a commemorative booklet featuring the moving stories of just some of our veterans who were there, experiencing the incredible joy and relief first-hand.
Have a look at our ideas below or tell us about your own.
Brew Up some community spirit
Recreate the famous VE Day atmosphere with a Brew Up party in your community, work place or class room. You can even make memories with a 1940s Dress Up or Second World War-themed Swot Up Quiz.
Plan a sponsored walk with family, friends or colleagues to or from your local war memorial, and finish off by raising a glass or two to celebrate 80 years of freedom!
Get creative with number 80
The possibilities are endless... Bake and sell 80 cakes. Walk, run or cycle 80k. Swim 80 lengths of your local pool. Hop, skip or jump 80 laps of your playground. Do 80 good deeds. Got an annoying habit? Give It Up for 80 days. Make Every Penny Count by collecting £80 in loose change...
Take on a new challenge
This could be the perfect opportunity to take on a challenge in May and commit to doing something you've never done before! Whether you're looking for a marathon place, a cycling challenge or a skydive, or for excitement overseas or closer to home, let us help you find the perfect thing.
Become a military sight loss champion
We are launching a new scheme and are looking for proactive Service personnel and Cadet Forces to become our 'military sight loss champions' and make a real difference to the lives of vision-impaired veterans.
More ways to get involved
Armed Forces Month
Commemorate and celebrate our forces during June while raising vital funds to support our veterans.
Gift a wreath
Gift a wreath so that blind veterans can be a part of Remembrance in their own communities.
Planning to remember
Plan an activity or event to ensure the fallen and those left behind are not forgotten.
Sign up for email updates
We would love to send you updates about our work and how you can support us.
You can change your contact preferences at any time by calling us on 0300 111 2233 or emailing us. See our privacy policy for more details.